UCAS - Types of University

Six universities that are based in large industrial cities and gained their university status before World War One. They get this name from their architecture and industrial heritage. Strictly speaking, the universities are Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.

• Red Brick Universities

• Plate-glass Universities

• Russell Group Universities

• Polytechnic Universities

This name refers to the wave of new universities founded in the 1960s in the era of the Robbins Report that called for more universities to widen access to higher education for a booming population. They get this name from their architectural style of 1960/70’s contemporary design. Examples include the University of York and Lancaster University.

• Russell Group Universities

• Plate-glass Universities

• Polytechnic Universities

• Ancient Universities

A group representing 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining high quality research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and links with business and the public sector.

• Collegiate Universities

• Russell Group Universities

• Ancient Universities

• Campus Universities

A university that has all its teaching, accommodation and research facilities located on one site.

• Polytechnic University

• Ancient University

• Campus University

• City University

A university whose functions are divided between a central administration and a number of associated colleges. Central buildings are typically used for teaching and research, whereas colleges are typically used as accommodation for students and staff, as well as some teaching.

• A Conservatoire University

• A Collegiate University

• A City University

• A Polytechnic

A university that has its teaching, accommodation and research facilities concentrated in an urban area.

• A City University

• A Polytechnic

• A Modern University

• A 1994 Group University

A group bringing together 11 UK universities to promote excellence in research-based teaching for a high-quality student experience. All 11 universities rank in the top 2% of institutions worldwide.

• The 1994 Group

• The Ancient Universities

• The Conservatoires

• The Lyceum Group

Seven still-existent British and Irish medieval and renaissance universities. These universities are some of the oldest in the world and retain their architectural style and some of their academic traditions.

• Ancient Universities

• Conservatoires

• Proper Universities

• Russell Group

A collection of institutions that were once classified as colleges that offered undergraduate degrees in STEM and vocational subjects. These institutions gained university status in 1992.

• Polytechnic Universities

• College Universities

• Conservatoire Universities

• The 1992 Group Universities

A university that provide performance-based higher education, including music, drama, screen and production courses – both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

• A Conservatoire

• A Westend University

• A Collegiate University

• A Plate-glass university